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Chatham cat lovers speak out for feral felines during county commission meeting

Most in attendance call for "trap, neuter, release" program to continue

Animal lovers can be a passionate bunch.

That was clear during Friday’s packed Chatham County Commission meeting, when dozens of residents came out in response to the county’s plan to reexamine how feral cat colonies are managed.

Most of those in attendance spoke, or applauded, in support for continuing trap, neuter and release programs, which are under county scrutiny due to health concerns.

Kathryn Williams said doing nothing is not an option and that catching and killing the feral cats is inhumane and expensive. Capture and release programs, which include vaccinations, are effective and done without county funding, Williams said. Much of the problem lies with irresponsible pet owners who dump their cats, she said.

Williams requested that a group be put together to create an ordinance with strong penalties for abandoning animals. In addition, she suggested micro-chipping pets so their owners could be traced, while also monitoring feral cats to make sure their vaccinations are current.

All of these ideas could be discussed as the ordinance is developed, she said.

The issue was raised by Commissioner Helen Stone, who said she has concerns about feral cats spreading diseases such as rabies. Stone said she is not looking to round up and kill all the feral cats, but wants a clear policy on how to address any public safety issues.

“I want to be proactive on this issue and not reactive when someone gets hurt,” she said.

Commissioner Tabitha Odell said she has heard from many people who have complained that feral cats are a nuisance and unsanitary. Standing water, food left out that attracts other animals, and feces that could transfer contaminants are some of the concerns being raised, Odell said.

“A lot of people will not come forward,” she said. “Some of your people will bully people that do not support your views.”

Officials from the Chatham County Health Department and Georgia Department of Agriculture also offered their own input on the issue.

Todd Jones, environmental health director, said the health department is obligated to minimize the risk of rabies. One concern is the feral cats contracting the disease from a raccoon, which is a primary carrier, Jones said. One speaker suggested that feral cat colonies should be kept away from the general population, which Commissioner Dean Kicklighter praised. Kicklighter said the county has plenty of undeveloped land where the animals could be located.

Paula Wagner, who helped develop the county’s current animal control ordinance, said removing feral cats would result in an unintended consequence.

“The rat situation is horrible, if cats are removed,” Wagner said.

No action was taken after the comments. County Manager Russ Abolt said that all the suggestions would be considered. He will first meet with health and zoning official to figure out how to proceed, Abolt said.